Join the Spirit’s Work: The Twenty-Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time 2024

                                                          Join the Spirit’s Work:

The Twenty-Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time 2024

September 29, 2024

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Numbers 11:25-29; Psalm 19; James 5:1-6; Mark 9:38-48

 

In the Book of Numbers, Moses is confronted with a dispute from his followers about Eldad and Medad who did not receive the Spirit’s anointing, but they were doing good works all the same. Joshua, a longtime aide to Moses wanted them stopped; Moses saw this work proceeded from the Spirit. The same event happens with the disciples of Jesus who wanted to stop those who were driving out demons and doing good works. Both Moses and Jesus are helping the people to transcend their own religious principles and to see the works of God.

 

Of course, we need our faith Tradition, Scripture, and Church teachings to guide our morals, and we also must be courageous and free enough to follow the Spirit of Christ because it is indeed operative in the world. As society changes and the world gets more complex, the Church needs to be bold enough to get out of the sanctuary and go to where the people are to learn their needs and discover their worldviews. We must learn how to listen solemnly to our youth, and the “nones,” and the “dones.” Many youth today have a strong ethical thrust and welcome cultural pluralism, respect the rights of minorities, reject racism, nationalism, and cultural chauvinism, and they are ready and willing to engage in various civic initiatives. Much good work, just like we heard in Scripture, is being done in the name of Jesus outside the boundaries of church. A new frontier has been evolving, and the church’s ministers need to see these areas as places where spiritual seekers are looking for a connection with God.

 

One of the questions that will arise next month in the Church’s Synod meeting in Rome is: Who is a minister and by what authority? The Pope makes it clear that baptism is the criterion for ministry, while some clergy maintain that holy orders permit ministry. We must remember the words of Jesus, “Do not prevent (anyone.) For whoever is not against us is for us.” This is a KAIROS moment, an opportunity for the church to transform the way we think and act, to cross another threshold on the path of transformation. We are to discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. Both individuals and the church need this transcendent metanoia, and we must discover together what the spirit is saying to the churches. 

 

We know that Pope Francis recently concluded a four-country, twelve-day trip to Asia where he bolstered the faith and talked about dialogue as the basis for healthy relationships. He advocated for environmental responsibility, and he called for greater religious freedom, especially in countries where Christians are minorities. By the way, if you want to understand the mind of Pope Francis, follow his travels, because he goes to marginal places that are forgotten, or where Christians and others are oppressed, and where people need hope. However, my point is that Pope Francis visited the Jesuit communities, and these are the instructions he gave them. 

 

Pope Francis: "I want the Jesuits to make a noise. Read the Acts of the Apostles to see what the Apostles did at the beginning of Christianity! The Spirit leads to “uproar,” not to leaving everything standing still. This, in short, is the way to deal with important issues. Remember that Jesuits must be in the most difficult places, where it is least easy to act. It is our way of 'going above and beyond' for the greater glory of God."

 

I’m inspired by these words. It reminds me that most people do not like change, but they like the status quo even less. We must be the change we want to see. Our prayer today must be one of courage to go beyond the traditional boundaries and frontiers. It must resonate with boldness to know we are following the Spirit. We must accept freedom from past ways to be freed for the unknown future that is rapidly unfolding. We must discern the signs of the times along with the Spirit and with anyone on this journey who wants to discover the “above and beyond-ness” of God’s greater glory. This is an exciting moment within our faith. May we rise up with courage to face it with open minds and hearts. 

 

Scripture for Daily Mass

Monday: (Job 1) One day, when the angels of God came to present themselves before the LORD, Satan also came among them. And the LORD said to Satan, "Whence do you come?" Then Satan answered the LORD and said, "From roaming the earth and patrolling it." And the LORD said to Satan, "Have you noticed my servant Job, and that there is no one on earth like him, blameless and upright, fearing God and avoiding evil?"

 

Tuesday: (Job 3) Job opened his mouth and cursed his day. Job spoke out and said: Perish the day on which I was born, the night when they said, “The child is a boy!”

 

Wednesday: (Job 9) I know well that it is so; but how can a man be justified before God? Should one wish to contend with him, he could not answer him once in a thousand times. God is wise in heart and mighty in strength.

 

Thursday: (Job 19) Oh, would that my words were written down! Would that they were inscribed in a record: That with an iron chisel and with lead they were cut in the rock forever! But as for me, I know that my Vindicator lives.

 

Friday (Job 38) The LORD addressed Job out of the storm and said: Have you ever in your lifetime commanded the morning and shown the dawn its place for taking hold of the ends of the earth, till the wicked are shaken from its surface?

 

Saturday (Job 42) Job answered the LORD and said: I know that you can do all things,
and that no purpose of yours can be hindered. I have dealt with great things that I do not understand; things too wonderful for me, which I cannot know.

 

Gospel: 

Monday: (Luke 9) Then John said in reply, "Master, we saw someone casting out demons in your name and we tried to prevent him because he does not follow in our company." Jesus said to him, "Do not prevent him, for whoever is not against you is for you.

 

Tuesday: (Luke 9) Jesus resolutely determined to journey to Jerusalem, and he sent messengers ahead of him. On the way they entered a Samaritan village to prepare for his reception there, but they would not welcome him because the destination of his journey was Jerusalem.

 

Wednesday (Matthew 18) "Who is the greatest in the Kingdom of heaven?" He called a child over, placed it in their midst, and said, "Amen, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will not enter the Kingdom of heaven.

 

Thursday (Luke 10) Jesus appointed seventy-two other disciples whom he sent ahead of him in pairs to every town and place he intended to visit. He said to them, “The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few

 

Friday (Luke 10) Jesus said to them, "Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! 
For if the mighty deeds done in your midst had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would long ago have repented, sitting in sackcloth and ashes. But it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the judgment than for you.

 

Saturday (Luke 10) The seventy-two disciples returned rejoicing and said to Jesus, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us because of your name.” Jesus said, “I have observed Satan fall like lightning from the sky. Behold, I have given you the power ‘to tread upon serpents’ and scorpions and upon the full force of the enemy and nothing will harm you.

 

Saints of the Week

 

September 29: Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael, archangels are long a part of Christian and Jewish scripture. Michael is the angel who fights against evil as the head of all the angels; Gabriel announces the messiah's arrival and the births of Jesus and John the Baptist; and Raphael is a guardian angel who protects Tobias on his journey. Together, they are venerated to represent all the angels during a three-day period.

 

September 30: Jerome, priest and doctor (342-420), studied Greek and Latin as a young man after his baptism by Pope Liberius. He learned Hebrew when he became a monk and after ordination he studied scripture with Gregory Nazianzen in Constantinople. He became secretary to the Pope when he was asked to translate the Bible into Latin.

 

October 1: These of Lisieux, doctor (1873-1897), entered the Carmelites at age 15 and died at age 24 from tuberculosis. During her illness, Pauline, her prioress, asked her to write about her life in the convent. These stories are captured in "The Story of a Soul." He focused on her "little way" of pursuing holiness in everyday life.

 

October 2: The Guardian Angels are messengers and intermediaries between God and humans. They help us in our struggle against evil and they serve as guardians, the feast we celebrate today. Raphael is one of the guardians written about in the Book of Tobit. A memorial was added to the Roman calendar In 1670 in thanksgiving for their assistance.

 

October 3: Francis Borgia, S.J. became a duke at age 33. When his wife died and his eight children were grown, he joined the Jesuits. His preaching brought many people to the church and when he served as Superior General, the Society increased dramatically in Spain and Portugal. He established many missions in the new territories. 

 

October 4: Francis of Assisi (1181-1226) was from the wealthy Bernardone family who sold silk cloths. After serving as soldier as a prisoner of war, Francis chose to serve God and the poor. He felt called to repair God's house, which he thought was a church. His father was angry that he used family money so he disinherited him. He began to preach repentance and recruited others to his way of life. His order is known for poverty, simplicity, humble service, and delighting in creation.

This Week in Jesuit History

 

• September 29, 1558. In the Gesu, Rome, and elsewhere, the Jesuits began to keep Choir, in obedience to an order from Paul IV. This practice lasted less than a year, until the pope's death in August, 1559. 
• September 30, 1911. President William Howard Taft visited Saint Louis University and declared the football season open. 
• October 1, 1546. Isabel Roser was released from her Jesuit vows by St Ignatius after eight months. 
• October 2, 1964. Fr. General Janssens suffered a stroke and died three days later. During his generalate, the Society grew from 53 to 85 provinces, and from 28,839 to 35,968 members. 
• October 3, 1901. In France, religious persecution broke out afresh with the passing of Waldeck Rousseau's "Loi d'Association." 
• October 4, 1820. In Rome, great troubles arose before and during the Twentieth General Congregation, caused by Fr. Petrucci's intrigues. He sought to wreck the Society and was deposed from his office as Vicar General, though supported by Cardinal della Genga (afterwards Leo XII). 
• October 5, 1981. In a letter to Father General Arrupe, Pope John Paul II appointed Paolo Dezza as his personal delegate to govern the Society of Jesus, with Fr. Pittau as coadjutor.